TfL shortlists firms for new DLR trains

Transport for London (TfL) has issued a request for tender to four bidders as part of its procurement of a new fleet of DLR trains.

TfL is looking to order 43 new trains for the Docklands Light Railway. The trains will be walk-through, air-conditioned and have technology including live information boards and mobile phone charging points.

The contract to design and build the new trains is to be awarded in autumn next year, and the new fleet will be in service from 2022, according to TfL.

Jonathan Fox, director of rail and sponsored services at TfL, said: “These new trains will enable us to increase capacity on the network by up to 30%, significantly improving the comfort, reliability and quality of our service for customers.

“They will also support the creation of further jobs and homes in the Docklands area.”

The order will replace part of the existing rolling stock, some of which is nearly 25 years old, and result in a net increase of 10 trains.

The DLR currently carries 122m customers a year.

The procurement is part of of TfL’s ongoing expansion and investment programme.